Keyboard tray

ABSTRACT

A keyboard tray includes a chamber accessed through opposite side slots through which slides a slidable mouse tray. The slidable mouse tray and a lower keyboard body include groups of one of guide and reinforcing ribs and guide and reinforcing slots. A mouse cord supporting member can be utilized with either of opposite exposed side portions of the slidable mouse tray. The keyboard try is also preferably constructed of two bodies having alignment pins and openings for accurate registration incident to assembly of the keyboard tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a keyboard tray, particularly adapted forsupporting any one of a variety of conventional keyboards and a mouseassociated therewith.

The keyboard tray is preferably rigidly secured to a keyboard traysupporting arm which is articulately mounted relative to a desk uponwhich is supported a conventional personal computer (PC). The keyboardtray houses a relatively flat mouse tray in slidable relationshipthereto. The keyboard tray is preferably constructed from two pieces ofcompression-molded, injection-molded, vacuum-molded or like formedpolymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material which when united alonga periphery thereof define a bottom wall or surface, an upper supportingwall or surface, and a peripheral wall therebetween. The peripheral wallincludes spaced opposite side wall portions which each include a slotthrough which the mouse tray can slide between operative and inoperativepositions.

A keyboard tray as just described is fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,655,743 in the name of Charles A. Gillis which issued on Aug. 12,1997. The present invention constitutes an improvement over theinvention of the latter patent and the prior art patents listed thereinwhich are incorporated hereat by reference, along with U.S. Pat. No.6,694,895 granted on Feb. 24, 2004, also in the name of Charles A.Gillis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention improves prior art keyboard trays and particularlythe keyboard tray of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743 by (1) constructing theslidable tray and a chamber in which the slidable tray slides withcooperative substantially parallel guiding ribs and guiding groovesarranged in at least two spaced substantially parallel groups with atleast two guiding ribs per group which define a guiding surface curvedin a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of theslidable tray, (2) providing a removable mouse cord supporting memberhaving a U-shaped slot in which a mouse cord can be secured and (3)constructing the keyboard tray from two members each including aperipheral wall and having a plurality of inter-engaged registrationpins and openings for aligning the individual keyboard members incidentto permanently securing the same to each other.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a novel keyboard tray of the presentinvention, and illustrates in phantom outline a conventional keyboardassociated therewith and also in phantom outline a conventional mouseassociated with a slidable mouse tray in its right-hand position of use,but slidable to a left-hand position of use shown in phantom outline.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the keyboard tray, andillustrates upper and lower keyboard bodies, the slidable mouse tray anda mouse cord securing member.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the keyboard tray, and illustratesthe slidable mouse tray housed within an interior chamber of thekeyboard tray and a generally narrow polygonal opening or slot in a sidewall thereof.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an interior of a lower keyboard bodyof the keyboard tray, and illustrates a plurality of substantiallyparallel spaced reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the lower keyboard bodywith the ribs being arranged in a groups with each group defining asubstantially curved guiding surface, as viewed in transversecross-section to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable mousetray.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the slidable mouse tray, andillustrates a plurality of reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the slidablemouse tray and being each defined by a plurality of substantiallyparallel spaced ribs with each group of ribs defining a curved guidingsurface matching the curved guiding surface of the grooves of the lowerkeyboard body of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line6-6 of FIG. 3, and illustrates four groups of guiding grooves and fourguiding ribs with each of the latter being defined by a plurality ofgenerally spaced parallel ribs and one of a plurality of interlockedalignment pins and openings for aligning the keyboard bodies duringassembly thereof.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 7-7 of FIG. 3, and illustrates details of four groups ofguide grooves or slots of the lower keyboard body and the generallytransverse curvature thereof matching each group of guiding grooves ofthe slidable mouse tray.

FIG. 8, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 3, is anenlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left-hand corner of theupper and lower keyboard bodies of FIG. 2, and illustrates respectivealignment openings and pins for effecting alignment between the keyboardbodies incident to permanently adhesively or otherwise securing the sameto each other.

FIG. 9, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 3, is anenlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9of FIG. 3, and illustrates one of the four alignment pins registeredwith its associated alignment opening or bore.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A novel keyboard tray constructed in accordance with this invention isfully illustrated in the drawings and is generally designated by thereference numeral 10 which supports any one of a variety of aconventional keyboards K (FIG. 1) having a power cord C.

The keyboard tray 10 includes a slidable mouse tray 15 which can behoused substantially entirely within the keyboard 10 (FIG. 3) or can beslid to the right or left, as shown respectively in solid and phantomoutline in FIG. 1. A conventional mouse M (FIG. 1) having a power cordC1 can be supported by the mouse tray 15 at either side of the keyboardtray 10 depending upon the location of the mouse tray 15.

The keyboard tray 10 is preferably injection-molded, compression-moldedor otherwise molded from polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plasticmaterial and has two separate individual keyboard bodies or keyboardmembers, namely, an upper keyboard body 21 and a lower keyboard body 22.

The upper keyboard body 21 (FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7) includes an upperrelatively flat surface or wall 30 of a generally polygonal orrectangular configuration set-off by a depending rear wall portion 31, acurved depending front wall portion 32, and opposite substantiallyparallel depending side wall portions 33, 34 with the latter dependingwall portions 31 through 34 collectively defining a depending peripheralwall 35 terminating in a peripheral edge 36. An underside of the upperwall 30 is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel spacedlongitudinal reinforcing ribs 37 extending between the side wallportions 33, 34 which are in crossing relationship to a plurality ofsubstantially parallel transverse reinforcing ribs 38 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8)extending between the rear and front wall portions 31, 32, respectively.The upper wall 30 includes substantially shallow polygonal orrectangular recesses R1, R2 (FIGS. 3 and 7) in which are housed andadhesively secured thereto respective pads P1, P2 of high coefficient offriction material which functions to prevent the keyboard K from slidingalong the surface 30, as is most evident from FIG. 1 of the drawings.

A peripheral reinforcing rib 64 projects upwardly from the upper wallsurface 30 of the upper keyboard body 21 along the rear peripheral wall31 and the side peripheral walls 33, 34, and includes upwardly openingslots S into either of which can be located the power cord C of thekeyboard K (FIG. 1).

At each corner (unnumbered) of the upper keyboard body 21 and midway ofthe rear and front walls 31, 32, respectively, there is provided adownwardly opening generally cylindrical alignment bore or opening 58(FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) which receives an upwardly projecting cylindricalalignment pin 59 (FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) of the lower keyboard body 22 whichare utilized to align the keyboard bodies 21, 22 incident to permanentlyassembling the same utilizing conventional adhesive, sonic welding, orthe like along the mating/contacting peripheries thereof.

The mouse slide tray 15 is of a generally polygonal or rectangularconfiguration and includes two relatively large shallow substantiallyrectangular mouse-receiving recesses R3, R4 (FIGS. 1, 2 6 and 7) locatedsymmetrically with respect to rear and front edges 24, 25, respectively,and opposite side edges 26, 27. As is best illustrated in FIG. 5, fourgroups 41 through 44 of three ribs 45 through 47 each which terminate inrespective terminal or end faces or surfaces 55 through 57,respectively, project downwardly from a lower surface 28 of the slidablemouse tray 15. Each of the groups 41 through 44 of three ribs 45 through47 are reinforced by a plurality of longitudinally spaced dependingprojections 48 of a generally arcuate configuration as defined by anarcuate or curved terminal or end face 49 which, as viewed in transversecross-section (FIGS. 6 and 7), imparts a generally curved transverseconfiguration defined by a transverse curved plane passing through theend or terminal faces 55 through 57 of the ribs 45 through 47,respectively, of each of the groups 41 through 44. The transversecurvature or arc is identified by the reference character A in FIG. 6and 7 of the drawings.

The slidable mouse tray 15 is further reinforced along the peripheralside walls 26, 27 by a plurality of downwardly projecting spacedreinforcing ribs 63 (FIG. 5) which foreshorten the length of the groups42, 43 of ribs 45 through 47 as compared to the groups 41, 44 of ribs 45through 47. The latter foreshortening provides finger access areas FA(FIG. 5) contiguous the side walls 26, 27 for gripping the mouse slidetray 15, particularly when completely housed within a chamber Cs (FIGS.6 and 7) set off between the keyboard bodies 21, 22 in which the mouseslide tray 15 can be substantially fully housed.

The lower keyboard body 22 includes a lower wall 70 (FIG. 4) of asubstantially polygonal or rectangular configuration substantiallymatching the configuration of the upper wall 30 of the keyboard body 21and projecting upwardly therefrom is a rear peripheral wall 71, aslightly curved front peripheral wall 72 matching the curvature of thefront wall 32 of the upper keyboard body 21, and side peripheral walls73, 74 collectively defining a peripheral wall 75.

The side peripheral walls 73, 74 of the lower keyboard body 22 are eachshorter in height than the sidewalls 33, 34, respectively, of the upperkeyboard body 21 and therewith define respective generally rectangularside openings or slots 76 (FIGS. 1 and 3) through which the mouse slidetray 15 can enter or exit the chamber Cs.

The lower keyboard body 22 is reinforced by four groups 81 through 84(FIG. 4) of four ribs 85 through 88 each which impart a mirror imagetransverse curved configuration A (FIGS. 6 and 7) to the respectivelongitudinally extending groups 41 through 44 of the mouse slide trayguide ribs 45 through 47, it being noted that the curvature andstructural relationship and orientation of the individual ribs 85through 88 both define the rib groups 81 through 84 and the guide slots81 through 84 defined thereby.

When assembled in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 of thedrawings, the groups 41 through 44 of guide ribs 45 through 47 of theslidable mouse try 15 slide in the guide grooves 81 through 84,respectively, of the lower keyboard body 22 each define by the four ribs85 through 88 along the substantially matching arcuate guide surfaces A(FIGS. 6 and 7) which are defined by upper surfaces (unnumbered) of theribs 85 through 88 and corresponding curved surfaces 91 (FIG. 4) of aplurality of transverse reinforcing ribs 92 (FIG. 4). In this manner,the ribs 45 through 47 and 85 through 88 of the respective mouse slidetray 15 and the lower keyboard body 22 define smooth substantiallyarcuate surfaces A which not only provide guiding functions butreinforcing functions contemporaneously therewith.

A mouse cord member 100 (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes upper and lowersubstantially parallel walls 101, 102 defining a channel 103therebetween which has a vertical height slightly less than thethickness of the slidable mouse tray 15 along the rear edge 24 thereof.The mouse cord member 100 is preferably constructed from syntheticpolymeric/copolymeric plastic material and can be snap-secured to theslidable mouse tray 15 at either exposed side thereof in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. An upwardly projecting rib 105includes an upwardly opening slot 106 for snugly snap-receiving thereinthe cord C1 of the mouse M in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

The bottom wall 70 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) is provided with a polygonal orrectangular recess Rr (FIGS. 2 and 4) in which is housed a block of woodB secured to the wall 70 by screws (unnumbered) for the purpose ofsecuring thereto a keyboard support arm (such as the support arm A ofFIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,743).

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the article without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

1. A keyboard tray particularly adapted for supporting any one of avariety of keyboards and an associated mouse comprising upper and lowerwalls and a peripheral wall therebetween, said peripheral wall includingopposite spaced front and rear wall portions and opposite spaced sidewall portions, a slot in each side wall portion opening into a chamberdefined by said upper, lower and peripheral walls, a slidable trayhoused generally within said chamber and having opposite side edges eachsubstantially adjacent one of said side wall portions, said slidabletray being slidable relative to said chamber such that the opposite sideedges of said slidable tray can alternatively project beyond anassociated side wall portion of said peripheral wall to adapt the trayfor selective right hand and left hand utilization of a mouseselectively upon either of said slidable tray side edge portions, saidlower wall including one of a plurality of spaced substantially parallelguiding ribs and guiding grooves, said slidable tray including the otherof the plurality of spaced substantially parallel guiding ribs andguiding grooves, and said guiding ribs and guiding grooves being insubstantially complementary engaged sliding relationship with each otherfor guiding side-to-side sliding movement of said slidable tray betweenthe right and left hand positions of mouse utilization.
 2. The keyboardtray as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of parallel guidingribs are arranged in at least two spaced substantially parallel groupswith at least two guiding ribs per group.
 3. The keyboard tray asdefined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of parallel guiding ribs arearranged in at least three spaced substantially parallel groups with atleast two guiding ribs per group.
 4. The keyboard tray as defined inclaim 1 wherein the plurality of parallel guiding ribs are arranged inat least three spaced substantially parallel groups with at least threeguiding ribs per group.
 5. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1wherein the guiding ribs include a guiding surface which is curved in adirection transverse to the direction of sliding movement of slidabletray.
 6. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the guidinggrooves include a guiding surface which is curved in a directiontransverse to the direction of sliding movement of the slidable tray. 7.The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 wherein the guiding ribs includea guiding surface which is curved in a direction transverse to thedirection of sliding movement of slidable tray, and the guiding groovesinclude a guiding surface which is curved in a direction transverse tothe direction of sliding movement of the slidable tray.
 8. The keyboardtray as defined in claim 2 wherein the guiding ribs include a guidingsurface which is curved in a direction transverse to the direction ofsliding movement of slidable tray.
 9. The keyboard tray as defined inclaim 2 wherein the guiding grooves include a guiding surface which iscurved in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement ofthe slidable tray.
 10. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 whereinthe guiding ribs include a guiding surface which is curved in adirection transverse to the direction of sliding movement of slidabletray, and the guiding grooves include a guiding surface which is curvedin a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of theslidable tray.
 11. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including amouse cord member, said mouse cord member including means for securing amouse cord thereto, and said mouse cord member including means forremovably securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray whenpositioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization.
 12. Thekeyboard tray as defined in claim 1 including a mouse cord member, saidmouse cord member including means for securing a mouse cord thereto,said mouse cord member including means for removably securing said mousecord member to said slidable tray when positioned for either right handor left hand mouse utilization, and said mouse cord securing means is asubstantially U-shaped slot.
 13. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 1including a mouse cord member, said mouse cord member including meansfor securing a mouse cord thereto, said mouse cord member includingmeans for removably securing said mouse cord member to said slidabletray when positioned for either right hand or left hand mouseutilization, and said removable securing means is defined by formingsaid mouse cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectiondefined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp upon aperipheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
 14. The keyboard tray asdefined in claim 1 including a mouse cord member, said mouse cord memberincluding means for securing a mouse cord thereto, said mouse cordmember including means for removably securing said mouse cord member tosaid slidable tray when positioned for either right hand or left handmouse utilization, said mouse cord securing means is a substantiallyU-shaped slot, and said removable securing means is defined by formingsaid mouse cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectiondefined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp upon aperipheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
 15. The keyboard tray asdefined in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower wall are individualmembers peripherally united to each other, and said upper and lowerwalls include a plurality of inter-engaged registration pins and openingfor aligning said individual members incident to securing the same toeach other.
 16. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 2 wherein said atleast two guiding ribs per group each define a guiding surface of animaginary surface curved in a direction transverse to the direction ofsliding movement of the slidable tray.
 17. The keyboard tray as definedin claim 16 including a mouse cord member, said mouse cord memberincluding means for securing a mouse cord thereto, and said mouse cordmember including means for removably securing said mouse cord member tosaid slidable tray when positioned for either right hand or left handmouse utilization.
 18. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 16 whereinsaid upper and lower wall are individual members peripherally united toeach other, and said upper and lower walls include a plurality ofinter-engaged registration pins and opening for aligning said individualmembers incident to securing the same to each other.
 19. A keyboard trayparticularly adapted for supporting any one of a variety of keyboardsand an associated mouse comprising upper and lower walls and aperipheral wall therebetween, said peripheral wall including oppositespaced front and rear wall portions and opposite spaced side wallportions, a slot in each side wall portions opening into a chamberdefined by said upper, lower and peripheral walls, a slidable trayhoused generally within said chamber and having opposite side edges eachsubstantially adjacent one of said side wall portions, said slidabletray being slidable relative to said chamber such that the opposite sideedges of said slidable tray can alternatively project beyond anassociated side wall portion of said peripheral wall to adapt the trayfor selective right hand and left hand utilization of a mouseselectively upon either of said slidable tray side edge portions, amouse cord member, said mouse cord member including means for securing amouse cord thereto, and said mouse cord member including means forremovably securing said mouse cord member to said slidable tray whenpositioned for either right hand or left hand mouse utilization.
 20. Thekeyboard tray as defined in claim 19 including a mouse cord member, saidmouse cord member including means for securing a mouse cord thereto,said mouse cord member including means for removably securing said mousecord member to said slidable tray when positioned for either right handor left hand mouse utilization, and said mouse cord securing means is asubstantially U-shaped slot.
 21. The keyboard tray as defined in claim19 including a mouse cord member, said mouse cord member including meansfor securing a mouse cord thereto, said mouse cord member includingmeans for removably securing said mouse cord member to said slidabletray when positioned for either right hand or left hand mouseutilization, and said removable securing means is defined by formingsaid mouse cord member of a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectiondefined by a bight and a pair of legs sized to frictionally clamp upon aperipheral edge portion of said slidable tray.
 22. The keyboard tray asdefined in claim 19 including a mouse cord member, said mouse cordmember including means for securing a mouse cord thereto, said mousecord member including means for removably securing said mouse cordmember to said slidable tray when positioned for either right hand orleft hand mouse utilization, said mouse cord securing means is asubstantially U-shaped slot, and said removable securing means isdefined by forming said mouse cord member of a generally C-shapedtransverse cross-section defined by a bight and a pair of legs sized tofrictionally clamp upon a peripheral edge portion of said slidable tray.23. The keyboard tray as defined in claim 19 wherein said upper andlower wall are individual members peripherally united to each other, andsaid upper and lower walls include a plurality of inter-engagedregistration pins and opening for aligning said individual membersincident to securing the same to each other.